Infant/Toddler Support Teacher

Agency Name: Tri-County Opportunities Council

Program Name: Early Head Start/Head Start Program

Job Title: Infant/Toddler Support Teacher

Reports to: Site Supervisor

Schedule/Status: 35 hrs./week, Non-exempt, hourly position, full-year.

Education Requirements: Minimum of Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education or closely related field with a minimum of 18 credit hours in Early Childhood Education or Child Development. Previous experience in a licensed early childhood setting is desired. Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age.

Nine of the eighteen Early Childhood Education credits required above must be infant-toddler coursework. An employee hired without these credits will be required to sign a professional development plan upon hire with a designated timeline in which these credits will need to be completed.

Skills/Characteristics/Physical Requirements:
Demonstrated ability to establish a relationship of trust, respect and non-judgmental attitude when working with children, parents, staff and the community-at-large. Ability to work with individuals from various economics, educational and cultural backgrounds. Must be adaptable, flexible and emotionally mature. Must have leadership and management skills necessary to direct site team as well as the ability to work in a team-based work environment. Must have excellent oral and written communication skills. Must have the ability to be self-directed as well as the ability to follow supervisor direction. Must maintain confidentiality. Required to provide personal transportation to each home visit and all required T.C.O.C. Head Start/Early Head Start trainings in an insured vehicle with the driver of the vehicle having a valid driver’s license. Must be capable of entering and exiting program centers and family homes. Required to bend, reach overhead, lift and carry up to 40 pounds as well as other physical and mental abilities to supervise and insure the safety of children. Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age. Must pass a general physician’s health examination and TB test prior to employment and every two years thereafter. Must obtain and maintain certification in First Aid and CPR. Employment in this position is contingent on cleared criminal background check, cleared background check as per the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Licensing Standards and Policy Council approval.

Essential Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Policies and Regulations:

Must be knowledgeable of, and adhere and contribute to the program’s full compliance with:

• Head Start/Early Head Start Program Performance Standards, particularly those related to the Early Child Education and Health Services section, including nutrition, meal pattern requirements, meal service and sanitation.
• Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Licensing Standards and Child Care Act as it relates to child abuse and neglect and the mandated reporter requirements.
• Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Licensing Standards in the areas of required meal patterns, nutrition, meal service and sanitation.
• Tri-County Opportunities Council Personnel Policies and other related agency policies and procedures.
• Tri-County Opportunities Council Head Start/Early Head Start Teacher’s Manual, Nutrition Manual and other program manuals as they relate to this position.

Must act in accordance with the grantee agency and the Head Start/Early Head Start program’s mission statements.

Must adhere to grantee code of conduct and the Head Start/Early Head Start Code of Ethics.

Classroom Environment and Scheduling Responsibilities:

Physical Environment:

• Assist in creating and maintaining an indoor and outdoor physical environment in accordance with Head Start/Early Head Start Program Performance Standards, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Licensing Standards and with the guidance of the Creative Curriculum philosophy.

Assist in organizing classroom according to developmental levels and individual needs of infants or toddlers ensuring:

• The development of trust and emotional security;
• Opportunities to explore a variety of sensory and motor experiences;
• Opportunities for the development of self-awareness, autonomy, and
• self-expression; and
• Opportunities for gross and fine motor development.Assist in insuring that the classroom and related environments and the outdoor playground area is clean and safe at all times.
• Follow the facility contract for use of space.
• Insure that children are adequately supervised by qualified staff at all times (as per program’s Safety policy, a child left unsupervised while in my care will result in immediate termination).
• Insure that child-to-staff ratios are in compliance with DCFS requirements at all times.

Social and Emotional Environment:

• Create and maintain a safe, warm, accepting environment.
• Be aware of individual needs for sleeping, eating, toileting; developing an Individual Care Plan for each child.

Education Planning and Implementation:

• Assist in planning activities and lessons that are developmentally appropriate, enhance each child’s growth and development and that correspond to the program’s curriculum.
• Assist in incorporating relevant medical, dental, mental health and nutrition activities weekly.
• Assist in planning routines and transition times that take into account both group and individual child needs.
• Assist in planning activities and add materials to all learning centers that support each child’s emerging reading, writing, cognitive, literacy, language, social and emotional and motor skills.
• Assist in insuring that classroom activities and materials are culturally, ethnically and linguistically appropriate for the children in the group.

Child Assessment Responsibilities:

• Assist in tracking development of children through daily observation by the staff and/or reported by the parent.
• Assist in observing each child’s interactions and behaviors on a regular basis. Use anecdotal records to document observations.
• Assist in completion and updates of the GOLD Online Child Assessment.
• Assist and follow program procedures for individualizing for children.

Planning and Support for Children with Disabilities:

• Assist teacher in implementation of IFSP’s into planning for individual children.
• Assist with having all needed consents obtained for referrals, diagnostic evaluations, treatment and/or special services, as requested.

Nutrition Responsibilities:

Breakfast and/or snack planning and service:

• Plan meals that complement the vendor lunch. Provide nutritional requirements as per the CACPF guidelines and that comply with all food and nutrition policies as per the Head Start/Early Head Start program.
• Grocery shop for the needed foods as per planned menu one time per week only, staying within budgetary allowances.
• Pick up lunch from contracted vendor, depending on site assignment.
• Insure food is maintained at required temperatures prior to serving.
• Preparation, service, and clean-up of meals following all procedures and sanitation requirements as per the Head Start/Early Head Start program.
• Insure meals are served family style.
• Supervise at table and encourage/support children to try new foods. Facilitate social conversations and promote self-help skills.
• Dispose of all unused food. As per health and sanitation regulations, food may not be stored and served again or sent home with staff and/or parents.
• Sweep, mop floors, clean tables with bleach water and empty garbage after meals.
• Wash serving dishes, plates, bowls, cups, utensils, bottles, etc. using the three step sanitation process. Allow to air dry and put away.
• Keep service area clean on a daily basis.
• Check refrigerator temperature on a daily basis and record temperature. Clean and sanitize refrigerator a minimum of one-time per month.

Physical Health, Mental Health & Dental Health Responsibilities:

Medical and Dental Health:

• Assist in conducting daily health checks on each child.
• Model and assist children with hand washing, tooth brushing and other self-help skills.
• Assist in the follow-up of medical and dental appointments and services.
• Complete and submit accident reports as necessary.

Mental Health:

• Follow procedures as per the program’s Guidance and Discipline Policy regarding children with challenging behaviors.
• Work cooperatively with assigned Mental Health Consultant.

Parent and Family Involvement Responsibilities:

Cooperate and support the Family and Community Service Worker by:

• Attend at least two parent meetings per each program year. Assist in development of choices for curriculum planning and sending parent reminders home.
• Communicate regarding relevant family issues and concerns.
• Assist in collection of in-kind documentation from parents each week.

Provide opportunities for parent and family involvement and support by:

• Assist in preparing for and conducting parent/teacher conferences as per program schedule and requirements.
• Assist in development of bi-monthly site newsletter.
• Provide resources for classroom parent corner and lending library.
• Support the program’s Male Involvement Initiative.

Recordkeeping:

Child Files:

• Assist in maintaining classroom child files in a neat and orderly fashion.
• Insuring children’s files are stored in a locked cabinet.
• Maintain confidentiality of child files as per program requirements.

Program Paperwork:

• Assist in insuring neat, accurate and timely submission of all education, health, family involvement, nutrition and disability paperwork as per program requirements.

Nutrition Paperwork:

• Responsible for completion and submission of weekly menus for breakfast, lunch and snack.
• Responsible for completion and submission of refrigerator and temperature forms.
• Responsible for completion and submission of requisition forms for needed supplies.
• Responsible for nutrition inventory and annual update.
• Responsible for daily schedule of food service meals; post in classroom and submit to Nutrition Specialist.
• Responsible for receipts and required forms for food purchases. Receipts are to be submitted on Friday of each week and on the last day of each calendar month.
• Responsible for food allergy documentation, if applicable.

Personnel Paperwork:

• Submit personal payroll paperwork as per required schedules.
• Insure all required documentation for personnel file is current and up-to-date.
• Insure Sanitation Certificate is submitted and current at all times.

Team Participation:

Responsibilities to the site team:

• Work with Nutrition Specialist, Registered Dietician and other teaching staff to insure special food requirements for individual children are met; i.e. food allergies and/or need for special diet based on health issues, religious or cultural values.
• Support co-teachers and transportation staff (where applicable) on a daily basis.
• Participate in site team meetings as per developed schedule.

Responsibilities to the Early Head Start Site Supervisor:

• Complete Assignments as directed.
• Maintain open, respectful and regular communication.
• Responsibilities to the T.C.O.C. Head Start/Early Head Start team:
• Actively participate in the program-wide effort to identify and document sources of
• non-Federal revenue.

Program Planning and Evaluation:

• Serve as a member of the program’s self-assessment team, in invited.
• Work cooperatively with grantee agency staff, program staff, Board, Policy Council and the community-at-large to develop and implement short-term goals and objectives as per the program’s self-assessment process and to develop and implement long-range goals as per the Head Start/Early Head Start strategic plan.

Confidentiality:

• The person filling this position must abide by the program’s confidentiality policy and Code of Ethics regarding children, family, staff and/or agency matters.

Non-Essential Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a member on one or more of the T.C.O.C. Head Start/Early Head Start special committees or participate in special initiative projects other than those listed in the essential duties section of this position description.
• In accordance with the team philosophy of the T.C.O.C. Head Start/Early Head Start Program, the person filling this position may be requested to carry out other tasks in addition to the duties listed in this job description.

Meetings, Trainings and Professional Development:
The person filling this position is required to attend the following:

Meetings and Trainings:

• All annually scheduled pre-service and in-service sessions for teaching and nutrition staff.
• Site staff meetings.
• At least two parent meetings annually.
• Other meetings and trainings as may be requested by the Early Head Start Site Supervisor or Education Specialist.

Professional Development:

• Newly hired employees are required to attend the program’s Head Start Essentials semester long course within one year of hire.
• Required to attend course work to obtain Sanitation Certificate within 30 days of hire. Required to take a refresher course as needed to keep Sanitation Certificate current.
• As a method of continued growth and development, the person filling this position may be eligible for in-area and out-of-area trainings, workshops, conferences and/or credit-based course work as recommended by the Head Start/Early Head Start Education Manager or the Early Head Start Site Supervisor and in accordance with time and budget constraints.

Tri-County Opportunities Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provider. Applications from women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $15.00 - $17.94 per hour

Expected hours: 35 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

License/Certification:

• Child Development Associate Certification (Preferred)
• Driver's License (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Streator, IL 61364 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Streator, IL 61364: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $15 - $18